Markets
Shapes of Recovery: When Will the Global Economy Bounce Back?
The Shape of Economic Recovery, According to CEOs
Is the glass half full, or half empty?
Whenever the economy is put through the ringer, levels of optimism and pessimism about its potential recovery can vary greatly. The current state mid-pandemic is no exception.
This graphic first details the various shapes that economic recovery can take, and what they mean. We then dive into which of the four scenarios are perceived the most likely to occur, based on predictions made by CEOs from around the world.
The ABCs of Economic Recovery
Economic recovery comes in four distinct shapes—L, U, W, and V. Here’s what each of these are characterized by, and how long they typically last.
- L-shape
This scenario exhibits a sharp decline in the economy, followed by a slow recovery period. It’s often punctuated by persistent unemployment, taking several years to recoup back to previous levels. - U-shape
Also referred to as the “Nike Swoosh” recovery, in this scenario the economy stagnates for a few quarters and up to two years, before experiencing a relatively healthy rise back to its previous peak. - W-shape
This scenario offers a tempting promise of recovery, dips back into a sharp decline, and then finally enters the full recovery period of up to two years. This is also known as a “double-dip recession“, similar to what was seen in the early 1980s. - V-shape
In this best-case scenario, the sharp decline in the economy is quickly and immediately followed by a rapid recovery back to its previous peak in less than a year, bolstered especially by economic measures and strong consumer spending.
Another scenario not covered here is the Z-shape, defined by a boom after pent-up demand. However, it doesn’t quite make the cut for the present pandemic situation, as it’s considered even more optimistic than a V-shaped recovery.
Depending on who you ask, the sentiments about a post-pandemic recovery differ greatly. So which of these potential scenarios are we really dealing with?
How CEOs Think The Economy Could Recover
The think tank The Conference Board surveyed over 600 CEOs worldwide, to uncover how they feel about the likelihood of each recovery shape playing out in the near future.
The average CEO felt that economic recovery will follow a U-shaped trajectory (42%), eventually exhibiting a slow recovery coming out of Q3 of 2020—a moderately optimistic view.
However, geography seems to play a part in these CEO estimates of how rapidly things might revert back to “normal”. Over half of European CEOs (55%) project a U-shaped recovery, which is significantly higher than the global average. This could be because recent COVID-19 hotspots have mostly shifted to other areas outside of the continent, such as the U.S., India, and Brazil.
Here’s how responses vary by region:
Region | L-shape | U-shape | W-shape | V-shape |
---|---|---|---|---|
Global (N=606) | 32% | 42% | 16% | 11% |
U.S. (N=103) | 26% | 42% | 23% | 9% |
Europe (N=110) | 29% | 55% | 12% | 4% |
China (N=122) | 25% | 43% | 11% | 21% |
Japan (N=95) | 49% | 26% | 23% | 1% |
Gulf Region (N=16) | 57% | 26% | 17% | - |
In the U.S. and Japan, 23% of CEOs expect a second contraction to occur, meaning that economic activity could undergo a W-shape recovery. Both countries have experienced quite the hit, but there are stark differences in their resultant unemployment rates—15% at its peak in the U.S., but a mere 2.6% in Japan.
In China, 21% of CEOs—or one in five—anticipate a quick, V-shaped recovery. This is the most optimistic outlook of any region, and with good reason. Although economic growth contracted by 6.8% in the first quarter, China has bounced back to a 3.2% growth rate in the second quarter.
Finally, Gulf Region CEOs feel the most pessimistic about potential economic recovery. In the face of an oil shock, 57% predict the economy will see an L-shaped recovery that could result in depression-style stagnation in years to come.
The Economic Recovery, According to Risk Analysts
At the end of the day, CEO opinions are all over the map on the potential shape of the economic recovery—and this variance likely stems from geography, cultural biases, and of course the status of their own individual countries and industries.
Despite this, portions of all cohorts saw some possibility of an extended and drawn-out recovery. Earlier in the year, risk analysts surveyed by the World Economic Forum had similar thoughts, projecting a prolonged recession as the top risk of the post-COVID fallout.
It remains to be seen whether this will ultimately indeed be the trajectory we’re in store for.
Markets
30 Years of Gun Manufacturing in America
The U.S. has produced nearly 170 million firearms over the past three decades. Here are the numbers behind America’s gun manufacturing sector.

30 Years of Gun Manufacturing in America
While gun sales have been brisk in recent years, the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 was a boon for the gun industry.
From 2010-2019, an average of 13 million guns were sold legally in the U.S. each year. In 2020 and 2021, annual gun sales sharply increased to 20 million.
While the U.S. does import millions of weapons each year, a large amount of firearms sold in the country were produced domestically. Let’s dig into the data behind the multi-billion dollar gun manufacturing industry in America.
Gun Manufacturing in the United States
According to a recent report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. has produced nearly 170 million firearms over the past three decades, with production increasing sharply in recent years.
America’s gunmakers produce a wide variety of firearms, but they’re generally grouped into five categories; pistols, rifles, shotguns, revolvers, and everything else.
Below is a breakdown of firearms manufactured in the country over the past 30 years, by type:
Year | Pistols | Rifles | Revolvers | Shotguns | Misc. Firearms | Total Firearms |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | 1,404,753 | 1,407,400 | 628,573 | 935,541 | 42,126 | 4,418,393 |
1990 | 1,371,427 | 1,211,664 | 470,495 | 848,948 | 57,434 | 3,959,968 |
1991 | 1,378,252 | 883,482 | 456,966 | 828,426 | 15,980 | 3,563,106 |
1992 | 1,669,537 | 1,001,833 | 469,413 | 1,018,204 | 16,849 | 4,175,836 |
1993 | 2,093,362 | 1,173,694 | 562,292 | 1,144,940 | 81,349 | 5,055,637 |
1994 | 2,004,298 | 1,316,607 | 586,450 | 1,254,926 | 10,936 | 5,173,217 |
1995 | 1,195,284 | 1,411,120 | 527,664 | 1,173,645 | 8,629 | 4,316,342 |
1996 | 987,528 | 1,424,315 | 498,944 | 925,732 | 17,920 | 3,854,439 |
1997 | 1,036,077 | 1,251,341 | 370,428 | 915,978 | 19,680 | 3,593,504 |
1998 | 960,365 | 1,535,690 | 324,390 | 868,639 | 24,506 | 3,713,590 |
1999 | 995,446 | 1,569,685 | 335,784 | 1,106,995 | 39,837 | 4,047,747 |
2000 | 962,901 | 1,583,042 | 318,960 | 898,442 | 30,196 | 3,793,541 |
2001 | 626,836 | 1,284,554 | 320,143 | 679,813 | 21,309 | 2,932,655 |
2002 | 741,514 | 1,515,286 | 347,070 | 741,325 | 21,700 | 3,366,895 |
2003 | 811,660 | 1,430,324 | 309,364 | 726,078 | 30,978 | 3,308,404 |
2004 | 728,511 | 1,325,138 | 294,099 | 731,769 | 19,508 | 3,099,025 |
2005 | 803,425 | 1,431,372 | 274,205 | 709,313 | 23,179 | 3,241,494 |
2006 | 1,021,260 | 1,496,505 | 385,069 | 714,618 | 35,872 | 3,653,324 |
2007 | 1,219,664 | 1,610,923 | 391,334 | 645,231 | 55,461 | 3,922,613 |
2008 | 1,609,381 | 1,734,536 | 431,753 | 630,710 | 92,564 | 4,498,944 |
2009 | 1,868,258 | 2,248,851 | 547,195 | 752,699 | 138,815 | 5,555,818 |
2010 | 2,258,450 | 1,830,556 | 558,927 | 743,378 | 67,929 | 5,459,240 |
2011 | 2,598,133 | 2,318,088 | 572,857 | 862,401 | 190,407 | 6,541,886 |
2012 | 3,487,883 | 3,168,206 | 667,357 | 949,010 | 306,154 | 8,578,610 |
2013 | 4,441,726 | 3,979,570 | 725,282 | 1,203,072 | 495,142 | 10,844,792 |
2014 | 3,633,454 | 3,379,549 | 744,047 | 935,411 | 358,165 | 9,050,626 |
2015 | 3,557,199 | 3,691,799 | 885,259 | 777,273 | 447,131 | 9,358,661 |
2016 | 4,720,075 | 4,239,335 | 856,291 | 848,617 | 833,123 | 11,497,441 |
2017 | 3,691,010 | 2,504,092 | 720,917 | 653,139 | 758,634 | 8,327,792 |
2018 | 3,881,158 | 2,880,536 | 664,835 | 536,126 | 1,089,973 | 9,052,628 |
2019 | 3,046,013 | 1,957,667 | 580,601 | 480,735 | 946,929 | 7,011,945 |
Total | 60,804,840 | 59,796,760 | 15,826,964 | 26,241,134 | 6,298,415 | 168,968,113 |
Pistols (36%) and rifles (35%) are the dominant categories, and over time, the former has become the most commonly produced firearm type.
In 2001, pistols accounted for 21% of firearms produced. Today, nearly half of all firearms produced are pistols.
Who is Producing America’s Firearms?
There are a wide variety of firearm manufacturing companies in the U.S., but production is dominated by a few key players.
Here are the top 10 gunmakers in America, which collectively make up 70% of production:
Rank | Firearm Manufacturer | Guns Produced (2016-2020) | Share of total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Smith & Wesson Corp | 8,218,199 | 17.2% |
2 | Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc | 8,166,448 | 17.1% |
3 | Sig Sauer Inc | 3,660,629 | 7.7% |
4 | Freedom Group | 3,045,427 | 6.4% |
5 | 0 F Mossberg & Sons Inc | 2,223,241 | 4.7% |
6 | Taurus International Manufacturing | 1,996,121 | 4.2% |
7 | WM C Anderson Inc | 1,816,625 | 3.8% |
8 | Glock Inc | 1,510,437 | 3.2% |
9 | Henry RAC Holding Corp | 1,378,544 | 2.9% |
10 | JIE Capital Holdings / Enterprises | 1,258,969 | 2.6% |
Total | 33,274,640 | 69.7% |
One-third of production comes from two publicly-traded parent companies: Smith & Wesson (NYSE: RGR), and Sturm, Ruger & Co. (NASDAQ: SWBI)
Some of these players are especially dominant within certain types of firearms. For example:
- 58% of pistols were made by Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and SIG SAUER (2008–2018)
- 45% of rifles were made by Remington*, Ruger, and Smith & Wesson (2008–2018)
*In 2020, Remington filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and its assets were divided and sold to various buyers. The Remington brand name is now owned by Vista Outdoor (NYSE: VSTO)
The Geography of Gun Manufacturing
Companies that manufacture guns hold a Type 07 license from the ATF. As of 2020, there are more than 16,000 Type 07 licensees across the United States.
Below is a state-level look at where the country’s licensees are located:
State | Licenses (2000) | Licenses (2020) | Population | Licenses per 100,000 pop. (2020) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alaska | 8 | 117 | 733,391 | 16.0 |
Alabama | 40 | 276 | 5,039,877 | 5.5 |
Arkansas | 28 | 302 | 3,011,524 | 10.0 |
Arizona | 100 | 959 | 7,276,316 | 13.2 |
California | 159 | 620 | 39,237,836 | 1.6 |
Colorado | 27 | 481 | 5,812,069 | 8.3 |
Connecticut | 71 | 194 | 3,605,944 | 5.4 |
Delaware | 0 | 10 | 989,948 | 1.0 |
Florida | 131 | 1,009 | 21,781,128 | 4.6 |
Georgia | 52 | 510 | 10,799,566 | 4.7 |
Hawaii | 0 | 11 | 1,455,271 | 0.8 |
Iowa | 11 | 187 | 3,190,369 | 5.9 |
Idaho | 38 | 358 | 1,839,106 | 19.5 |
Illinois | 40 | 263 | 12,671,469 | 2.1 |
Indiana | 39 | 280 | 6,805,985 | 4.1 |
Kansas | 17 | 229 | 2,937,880 | 7.8 |
Kentucky | 22 | 211 | 4,505,836 | 4.7 |
Louisiana | 20 | 258 | 4,657,757 | 5.5 |
Massachusetts | 67 | 263 | 6,984,723 | 3.8 |
Maryland | 36 | 146 | 6,165,129 | 2.4 |
Maine | 13 | 107 | 1,362,359 | 7.9 |
Michigan | 43 | 386 | 10,050,811 | 3.8 |
Minnesota | 63 | 254 | 5,707,390 | 4.5 |
Missouri | 62 | 401 | 6,168,187 | 6.5 |
Mississippi | 12 | 190 | 2,961,279 | 6.4 |
Montana | 24 | 240 | 1,084,225 | 22.1 |
North Carolina | 52 | 628 | 10,551,162 | 6.0 |
North Dakota | 3 | 46 | 779,094 | 5.9 |
Nebraska | 15 | 91 | 1,961,504 | 4.6 |
New Hampshire | 25 | 188 | 1,377,529 | 13.6 |
New Jersey | 10 | 26 | 9,267,130 | 0.3 |
New Mexico | 18 | 179 | 2,117,522 | 8.5 |
Nevada | 45 | 276 | 3,104,614 | 8.9 |
New York | 35 | 299 | 19,835,913 | 1.5 |
Ohio | 80 | 644 | 11,780,017 | 5.5 |
Oklahoma | 37 | 423 | 3,959,353 | 10.7 |
Oregon | 55 | 226 | 4,237,256 | 5.3 |
Pennsylvania | 87 | 519 | 12,964,056 | 4.0 |
Rhode Island | 1 | 20 | 1,097,379 | 1.8 |
South Carolina | 25 | 284 | 5,190,705 | 5.5 |
South Dakota | 14 | 79 | 886,667 | 8.9 |
Tennessee | 76 | 352 | 6,975,218 | 5.0 |
Texas | 150 | 2,022 | 29,527,941 | 6.8 |
Utah | 33 | 478 | 3,271,616 | 14.6 |
Virginia | 48 | 412 | 8,642,274 | 4.8 |
Vermont | 15 | 85 | 643,077 | 13.2 |
Washington | 49 | 351 | 7,738,692 | 4.5 |
Wisconsin | 38 | 306 | 5,895,908 | 5.2 |
West Virginia | 20 | 115 | 1,793,716 | 6.4 |
Wyoming | 20 | 147 | 576,851 | 25.5 |
These manufacturers are located all around the country, so these numbers are somewhat reflective of population. Unsurprisingly, large states like Texas and Florida have the most licensees.
Sorting by the number of licensees per 100,000 people offers a different point of view. By this measure, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho come out on top.
If recent sales and production trends are any indication, these numbers may only continue to grow.
Markets
Made in America: Goods Exports by State
The U.S. exported $1.8 trillion worth of goods in 2021. This infographic looks at where that trade activity took place across the nation.

Made in America: Goods Exports by State
After China, the U.S. is the next largest exporter of goods in the world, shipping out $1.8 trillion worth of goods in 2021—an increase of 23% over the previous year.
Of course, that massive number doesn’t tell the whole story. The U.S. economy is multifaceted, with varying levels of trade activity taking place all across the nation.
Using the latest data on international trade from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, we’ve visualized the value of America’s goods exports by state.
Top 10 Exporter States
Here are the top 10 American states that exported the highest dollar value worth of goods during 2021. Combined, these export-leading states represent 59.4% of the nation’s total exports.
Rank | State | Total Exports Value | % share |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | Texas | $375.3 billion | 21.4% |
#2 | California | $175.1 billion | 10.0% |
#3 | New York | $84.9 billion | 4.8% |
#4 | Louisiana | $76.8 billion | 4.4% |
#5 | Illinois | $65.9 billion | 3.8% |
#6 | Michigan | $55.5 billion | 3.2% |
#7 | Florida | $55.5 billion | 3.2% |
#8 | Washington | $53.6 billion | 3.1% |
#9 | Ohio | $50.4 billion | 2.9% |
#10 | New Jersey | $49.5 billion | 2.8% |
Top 10 States | $1.04 trillion | 59.4% |
Texas has been the top exporting state in the U.S. for an incredible 20 years in a row.
Last year, Texas exported $375 billion worth of goods, which is more than California ($175 billion), New York ($85 billion), and Louisiana ($77 billion) combined. The state’s largest manufacturing export category is petroleum and coal products, but it’s also important to mention that Texas led the nation in tech exports for the ninth straight year.
California was the second highest exporter of goods in 2021 with a total value of $175 billion, an increase of 12% from the previous year. The state’s main export by value was computer and electronic product manufacturing, representing 17.8% of the total U.S. exports of that industry. California was also second among all states in exports of machinery manufacturing, accounting for 13.9% of the U.S. total.
What Type of Goods are Exported?
Here is a breakdown of the biggest U.S. export categories by value in 2021.
Rank | Product Group | Annual Export Value (2021) | Share of Total Exports |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mineral fuels including oil | $239.8 billion | 13.7% |
2 | Machinery including computers | $209.3 billion | 11.9% |
3 | Electrical machinery, equipment | $185.4 billion | 10.6% |
4 | Vehicles | $122.2 billion | 7.0% |
5 | Optical, technical, medical apparatus | $91.7 billion | 5.2% |
6 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $89.1 billion | 5.1% |
7 | Gems, precious metals | $82.3 billion | 4.7% |
8 | Pharmaceuticals | $78 billion | 4.4% |
9 | Plastics, plastic articles | $74.3 billion | 4.2% |
10 | Organic chemicals | $42.9 billion | 2.4% |
These top 10 export categories alone represent almost 70% of America’s total exports.
The biggest grower among this list is mineral fuels, up by 59% from last year. Pharmaceuticals saw the second biggest one-year increase (45%).
Top 10 U.S. Exports by Country of Destination
So who is buying “Made in America” products?
Unsurprisingly, neighboring countries Canada (17.5%) and Mexico (15.8%) are the two biggest buyers of American goods. Together, they purchase one-third of American exports.
Rank | Destination Country | Share of U.S. Goods Exports |
---|---|---|
1 | 🇨🇦 Canada | 17.5% |
2 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 15.8% |
3 | 🇨🇳 China | 8.6% |
4 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 4.3% |
5 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 3.7% |
6 | 🇩🇪 Germany | 3.7% |
7 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 3.5% |
8 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 3.1% |
9 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2.7% |
10 | 🇮🇳 India | 2.3% |
Three Asian countries round out the top five list: China (8.6%), Japan (4.3%), and South Korea (3.7%). Together, the top five countries account for around half of all goods exports.
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